Nondoctor

Bulldog at 89 Granby Street (just south of Carlton on Church) is the best in the city IMHO. Website is here: http://www.bulldogtoronto.com/home.htm

All sorted, thanks for your input.

Yes... I suppose you are right. Coopers even gives me an upset tummy (albeit after 20 or so). The LCBO lab report stated that there had been no previous complaints regarding this product... Ah well...

So... A question for all of you re: customer service. Let's say that theoretically one was involved with a restaurant... And that a customer claimed to have become sick after drinking a Cooper's Sparkling Ale in said restaurant ( a beer with a secondary fermentation in bottle). (This is all theory mind) *cough* This customer called to complain about having been violently ill after consuming 2 of these beers (and that they knew that the source of their illness was specifically from those beers). The restaurant responded by calling the LCBO lab and filing a report on behalf of the customer. The LCBO QSA department were extremely helpful and passed on a record of this report to the restaurant which they then passed on to the customer. The customer was still not satisfied. Where do you think a restaurant should go from here? Your thoughts would be much appreciated.

I guess, most of you have seen the very negative review by Amy Pataki in today's Star. Sounds as if I'll have to try it out for myself!!!

Yes, the Rivoli is open for lunch.

And we open Jamie Kennedy at the Gardiner Museum (Across from the ROM) next week... so that may work for you.

If you were willing to travel to Church/Front I'm pretty sure we could put something together with a tapas menu at JK Wine Bar. Please feel free to private message me if that would work.

"but with no pinot noir characteristics at all". You really think so???

Oh, and the winery is actually in Prince Edward County, but Norman Hardie's Pinot Noir is all Niagara fruit in the current (first) vintage. If you can track down a bottle of that it is well worth it. Also, look out for Charles Baker's Piccone Vineyard Riesling. TINY production. I have not tasted it yet myself, but with Msr. Baker's name behind it I am sure that it will be damn good. Sorry... I am ranting... again...

Sorry about the Bruntello thing. I couldn't resist.

As this is a discussion board I would beg to differ. Having tasted everything from the Stratus line over the past 12 months I firmly believe that their "Zero Compromise" winemaking is worth every penny. But then again, that is just my humble opinion. I really enjoy the Stratus Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Gamay (sold out!) and the Stratus Red and have continued to purchase Stratus wines for the establishment I work within to a rapturous reception all round (from our clients and staff). But what do I know? BTW, I have never tasted a Bruntello before (or heard of one for that matter)... I'd love to taste one though... are they readily available through the LCBO? *chortle* Seriously though... I can understand why some would not enjoy the wines of Stratus as they are not for everyone. I think the choice of buying an Italian Nebbiolo or traditional Venetian Blend over an up-and-coming Niagara Peninsula Merlot is very much a subjective decision. I like to look at Stratus as a brave vanguard producer for the region and will defend them to the hilt because of this. Rant over.

I'm with you on the Stratus wines. I feel that they (along with Tawse and Cave Spring) represent the very best that Niagara has to offer. The Stratus winery is worth a vist for the facility alone!

I've been up to my ears in tarts for years... *snigger*

Somewhat Jeebus, somewhat... *smile*

Yes... I like the Paddock. But the Communist's Daughter wins hands down in my world. All my friends from the UK love it too (when they come to visit). And they make their own pickled eggs there!

More or less, yes. Although the Spoke is something altogether different... but remember it is a private club. www.thespokeclub.com Paul Boehmer (ex of Ultra/Opus/Atlas) is the exec chef.

I'd love to give you some suggestions but I feel that Toronto is SORELY lacking decent pubs/bars... I spend most of my time at the Communist's Daughter, The Crooked Star, the Beaconsfield or The Spoke ... but I'm pretty sure those are not what you are looking for!

JK is open on that day.

"NonDoc - can you recall the wines?" Out was out to "work" with the JK gals... so things are a wee bit... fuzzy... to say the least... I'll put my mind to work on it later this morning if I can.

With the quality of the wines that we were poured I would say that the price was more than fair. And it takes a wee bit of work to impress me with wine matches BTW.

"from agents unable to connect with a restaurant that promised to buy..." Or agents that simply DO NOT have their shit together... Grrrrrrrrr... I have lost a lot of special private orders to Crossroads due to incompetent agencies not used to dealing with private orders.

The bill (including wines) came out to around $230 a head. I have the feeling that normally it would have been substantially more for this as I believe we were given a discount. The wines were exceptional BTW.

Beet gazpacho shooter, grilled shrimp with radish sprouts, lychee caviar Lobster cappuccino, curry oil and Caviar Yellowfin tuna, tomato consomme jelly, avacado and cilantro puree Squid ink gnocci, shrimp, tagliatelle squid and apsparagus Spanish mackerel with red pepper caviar and vanilla soup Squab with eucalyptus foam, carmalised pineapple, eucalyptus salt, baby bok choy, brussels sprout Rabbit loin and saddle, molten fois gras, verjus foam, pumpkin puree Chocolate ganache, red pepper/raspberry puree, hibiscus salt, olive oil Lemon and lime sorbet, juniper and rose salts, gin and tonic soup/jelly

Okay... here goes... I have pics of each dish but I'm not quite sure how to upload them??? We had a superb time at the Lobby... Service was stellar... a beautiful talented young lady called Trena. Spotted James Chatto dining there. Wines paired by John Gay were nothing short of spectacular. My only complaints would really be the crowd (which was a tad obnoxious) and the music (which was henious... but then I am self confessed snob when it comes to such matters). The food was extremely well executed. Here is the menu: Beet gazpacho shooter, grilled shrimp with radish sprouts, lychee caviar Lobster cappuccino, curry oil and Caviar Yellowfin tuna, tomato consomme jelly, avacado and cilantro puree Squid ink gnocci, shrimp, tagliatelle squid and apsparagus Spanish mackerel with red pepper caviar and vanilla soup Squab with eucalyptus foam, carmalised pineapple, eucalyptus salt, baby bok choy, brussels sprout Rabbit loin and saddle, molten fois gras, verjus foam, pumpkin puree Chocolate ganache, red pepper/raspberry puree, hibiscus salt, olive oil Lemon and lime sorbet, juniper and rose salts, gin and tonic soup/jelly (By this point I had consumed matching wines with each course so my memories are slightly fuzzy)